A Comprehensive Guide to Designing and Installing Fire Alarm Systems in Saudi Arabia with Al-Rowad Company
Fire alarm systems are considered one of the most important safety measures in buildings and facilities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense requires their installation and approval in commercial, industrial, and medical projects.
Al-Rowad Company provides integrated solutions starting from engineering design, through supply and installation, to programming and periodic maintenance, all in accordance with the highest NFPA international standards and the Saudi Building Code.
What is a Fire Alarm System?
It is an integrated electronic system designed to:
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Early detection of fire onset (smoke – heat – flame – gases).
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Alert occupants inside the building through bells, sirens, or illuminated guidance panels.
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Send signals to the main control panel to manage auxiliary systems such as:
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Shutting down HVAC systems.
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Activating smoke exhaust fans.
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Opening emergency exits.
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Sending direct notifications to Civil Defense.
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Components of a Fire Alarm System
The fire alarm system consists of several essential elements working in harmony:
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Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP).
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Fire Detectors:
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Smoke Detector.
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Heat Detector.
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Gas Detector.
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Flame/Beam Detectors.
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Notification Devices: bells – sirens – strobe lights.
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Manual Call Points.
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Primary and Backup Power Supply (UPS batteries).
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Fire-resistant cabling and wiring network.
Types of Fire Alarm Systems
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Conventional System: relies on dividing the building into zones, identifying the alarm location only within that zone.
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Addressable System: each detector has a unique address displayed on the control panel.
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Intelligent System: capable of analyzing data and reducing false alarms.
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Integrated System with Automatic Suppression: links the alarm with automatic extinguishing systems such as sprinklers or FM200 gas.
Steps for Designing a Fire Alarm System
When designing the system, Al-Rowad considers the following:
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Risk Assessment: nature of the facility (factory – hospital – residential tower – shopping mall).
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Detector Distribution: according to NFPA 72 standards and the Saudi Building Code (e.g., one smoke detector every 9 meters).
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Control Panel Location: placed in an accessible area, close to Civil Defense or the control room.
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Manual Call Point Placement: installed at emergency exits, 1.4 meters above floor level.
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System Integration with elevators, lighting, central air conditioning, and voice evacuation system.
How to Connect a Fire Alarm Circuit
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Connect detectors in a Loop configuration in addressable systems.
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In a conventional system, wiring is done using Zone Wiring method.
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Cables must be:
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Fire resistant (Fire Resistant Cable).
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Insulated against moisture and high temperatures.
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Detector installation height must not exceed 10 meters, taking into account airflow direction and air conditioning vents.
Fire Alarm Panel Programming
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Using Binary Coding: through switches 1, 2, 4, 8, etc.
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Using Ones & Tens System: assigns an address to each device.
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The panel allows customizing messages for each zone (Zone Label) to facilitate quick response.
Maintenance and Periodic Inspection
Al-Rowad provides certified maintenance contracts that include:
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Testing batteries and the central control panel.
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Testing heat and smoke detectors.
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Simulating an alarm to ensure operation of sirens and emergency doors.
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Submitting monthly/quarterly reports to the Saudi Civil Defense.
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